Corn-planter



No. 6l|,652. Patented Oct. 4, |898. C. J. SPUHCK.Y

`HORN PLANTER.

(Application led Apr. 12, 18 98.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet Il.

t y Y l 1 .ff f5 E m: E f y fk fi l [al I 4 gg /rJ l n MWAJK l l w L/ No. 6||,52. Patented ou. 4, |398.

n. .L sPuRcK.

CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shel# 2.

No. 6|L652. Patented 00L 4, |898.

c. J. sum'zk.

CORN PLNTER.

(Application filed Apr.- 12, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

.l/venan c. J. SPURCK.

conn PLANTEH.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1898.)

Nu. 6lI,65'2. Patented Bct. 4, |8918.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

'To n/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

llNiTnD s STATES CHARLES J. SPURCK, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,652, dated October 4, 1898.

, Application filed April 12, 1898. Serial No. 677,281. (No model.)

Beit known that I, CHARLES J. SPURCK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, which Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain newaud useful improvements in corn-planters by means of which a planter is constructed that has certain novel features that are well adapted for the purpose designed.

More particularly my invention relates to that class of corn-planters by which an ordinary check-row planter may be converted into a drill-planter or to a hill-drop or to a hand and foot drop, the object being to facilitate an easy and quick adjustment of those parts, the same being accomplished either by the check-rower, the operating and rock shaft combined, or by the drive-Wheels and the check-rower, as desired.

My invention consists,essentially,in the provision of a main frame, a runner-frame, of the corn-receiving boxes, and dropping mechanism, whereby the same may be opened Without removing the grain.. therein to examine, adj ust, or change the dropping-plates or other mechanism, of the planter-Shanks, the means for adjusting the same upon the frame for planting rows of different widths, as desired, and of certain other details adapted to simplify` the constructions heretofore employed in corn-planters.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood,I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis atop plan view of aseed-planting machine having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front portion of the planter. Fig. Sis asectional elevation, the section being taken transversely through the hopper and dropping mechanism. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively detail Views, one an elevation and the other a section, of portions of the planter. Fig.` 6 is a vertical section of a portion of the shank and a stand for the seedboXLshowing the relation of the one to the other and the manner of adjusting the shank on the frame.` Fig. 7 is a plan of the bottom for the seedbox and the manner ot' carrying the adjustable dropping-plates. Fig. 8 is a section on the line x a; of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a cross-section through the perforations inthe dropping-plates. Fig. l0 is aplan of the ring. Figs. 11 and l2 are plan views of the droppingplates. Fig.' 13 is a vertical section of my irnproved knocker and the manner of carrying the same. i Fig. 14 is a top plan ofthe bottom to the said boX,showing the cut-off audits covering. Fig. 15 is a sectional detail View.

Like letters of reference indicate the several corresponding parts throughout the 'ligures.

The frameworkupon which those portions of the machine which embody my invention are mounted may be of any usual or approved construction. In the said drawings, A represents the wheel-frame, and B the runner-frame, of an ordinary corn-planter, the parts being suitably connected by means of the extension a o. of the frame A, adjustablycoupledv at c in the couplings A A', which are bolted to the beam C, the runnerfframe being suitably secured to the couplings by means of the straps on the bars lC C', which are bolted to the beam C and to the couplingsat a a.

b b are the carrying-wheels, which are arranged in the usual way on the shaft b, which carries a sprocket-wheel h2, over which passes a driving-chain b3, which delivers power to the operating shaft L through a suitable sprocket-wheel b4 on said shaft, the shaft being suitably journaled in the stands D, which carry the seedboxes, and held in position by means hereinafter described.

E is a rock-shaft journaled in the bearings e e, suitably supported on the opposite ends of the 4beam C and also in the journal-.box F, which is also provided for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

G G are'cylindrical-shaped seedboxes arranged at opposite sides of the planter and are constructed inthe manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, provided with the bottom or base E', adapted to be hinged to the extension D of the stands D and at E2 thereon, the same be'- ing locked and held in position by lneans of the thumb-and-serew connectionat E3, the stand D having the upward extensionl E4,

the same being slotted at c therein to adapt the screw to be slipped into or out of the slotted opening provided in the bottom E/ for holding the same in position. The construction of the seedboX, its bottom, and the manner of carrying the seed-plates is very simple, the bottom of the bo'X, which is detachable, serving the purpose of a bottom, forming the cut-off, and is adapted to carry therein a knocker, to be described.

The bottom or base E of the seedbox is provided with the flange H, around which is adapted to be carried the driving-ring 7c, the said ring being provided with the base or flange extension h', in which are adapted to be carried the dropping-plates, the same being held in position by means of the depressionsz' t, which are adapted to engage the lugs 71,2 on the ring 7L, the said ring being also provided with the gear-teeth h3, adapted to mesh in a pinion J on the operating-shaft L. The shaft L, which is journaled in the standard D and which is easily removable therefrom by simply raising the seedboX, is adapted to be firmly held in its journal by means of the engagement from the teeth of the ring h with t-he pinion J on the said shaft.

The droppin g-plates, which will be referred to as K K', are adjustable the one upon the other and are so adjustable by means of the bolts 7c, movable in suitable depressions in the plate K.

K2 is a bottom plate or covering serving as a Support for the dropping-plates and the toothed ring, which plate is held in place by means of the bolt 7c', carried through the base of the seedbox, and a nut screwed on the other end'thereof and upon the outside of the plate K2,as shown in Fig. 3, the bolt serving as a journal-support for the dropping-plates and ring, the plate being also provided with the opening k2, adapted to match with the opening D8 in the seedboX-stand D. The base E' of the box, as referred to above, is adapted to be used as a cut-off, the cut-off being shown best in Fig. 14 of the drawings and designated as m, its covering being referred to as M, having the extension m and bolted to the base at m2, the extension m adapted to be carried in a plane directly above the bolt 7a and is adapted to hold the same in place.

M' is a knocker of an improved form Which has certain novel features which adapts it for use in connection with the dropping-plates and causes the sure delivery of each grain of corn to its proper place' in the shanks. The base E is provided 'with a suitable slot e3 and also the lug @-4. The knocker is provided with the curved arm extension M2, adapting the same to act as a hinge upon the lug e4, the knocker being also provided with the eXtension m3 m4 and the lug m5. I have shown in connection with said knocker a compressionspring M3, carried around the lug m5 on the knocker and around a lug projection fm.G from the covering M, the projection m3 of the knocker in its adjustment being carried directly above the openings of the droppingplate and concentric to the holes in the stand D, adapted when the holes of the droppingplates are concentric to the lug m3 to hold the plate in a position normally stationary for the dropping of the seeds adapted to be planted, the action of the said knocker being such as to provide against any clogging of seeds that may not fall through the holes in the plates, adapted when the plates are revolved to bear against its upper face and to force any stray seeds through the perforations that may not have dropped in the course of the operation.

In the adjustment of the planter I have provided means whereby the planter may be caused to drop in widths either a three-feetsix-inch ora three-feet-eight-inch width. The seedboxes, being stationary on the frame, are placed at a distance from center to center a width of three feet seven inches.

N N are Shanks provided with the runner or furrow-opener N' N', as shown, and having suitable valves S for controlling the outlet of the seeds as they are dropped into the Shanks, the same being timed in their operation and controlled by the arm n, movable with the rock-shaft E, to the outer end of which said arm is attached a rod n, controlling the operation of the valve S in the heel of the shank. The shanks N N are suitably bolted to the beam and adjustable thereon in the following manner: The upper portion of the Shanks N are funnel-shaped and have the flange extensions N2 N2. These flange extensions are provided with bolt-holes matching suitable holes n2 in the frame C, the bolt-holes in the frame being arranged a distance of one inch apart, adapting the shank, when it is desired to be adjusted for planting rows three feet six inches or three feet eight inches apart, to be moved and the bolts adjusted as desired, the funnel shape of the upper portion of the shank being provided to take up this manner of adjustment, adapting the orifice in the stand and the shank to always be coincident, the runner-frame B in like manner being provided with the series of bolt-holes b5, adapting the runner to be simultaneously adjusted upon said frame as the shank is adjusted on the beam C.

On the opposite or outer ends of the rockshaft E, I have shown a means adapted to be operated from the forked levers through the check-wire for actuating the rock-shaft and operating-shaft, which means is of a novel construction and is well adapted for the purpose designed.

P are heads carried in a suitable manner on the beam C, and p are forked levers suitably pivoted on t-he heads p.

P are check-arms loosely carried on the rock-shaft E, and P2 are check-arm stops which are provided with half-boxings p3 for holding arms P firmly upon the shaft E. The check-arm stops P2 are constructed in the manner shown in Fig. l5 and are shown having a bearing relation with the check- IOO IOS

IIO

Izq

arms P, the arm P being always held in its normal position (shown in Figs. 2 and l5) by the loop from the rod p4, which is adjustable on the forked lever p. Y

Referring to the half-boxings pil, P2 is a curved arm extension from the boxing p3,

which is adapted for use as a spring-holder, the spring p5 being hooked on the hook p of the arm p2, the opposite end of which is held by the head P. This manner of securing the spring holds the check-arm stop P2 under a continuous pressure.

Mounted on the operating-shaftLis a drumratchet Wheel O, provided with the trundles o, and O are steady-brackets for the operatin g-shaft and are carried on either side of the drum-ratchet on thev operating-shaft and are bolted at o to the center journal-box F,which box F is bolted to the beam C at F, as shown in Figs. i and 5. The rock-shaft E is provided With the upwardly-projecting curved arm-support O2, to Which is pivoted at o2 the dog O3, Which is provided With the hook o3, adapted to engage the trundles o of the drum-ratchet as the arm O2 is actuated by the movement of the rock-shaft E. The journalbox F is of a novel construction, being pro vided with the centrally-disposed opening Q and the enlarged opening or cavity Q, as is best shown iu Fig. 5. The opening Q is much smaller at its base and is provided with the inWardIy-bearin g flange q. Through the opening Q is purposed to be carried the plunger R, which is provided with the peculiarly-curved plunger-head R', having the projections r fr", which are adapted to engage the trundles o of the drum-ratchet and stop a forward or backward movement of the shaft L other than is necessary in the provision made for the movement of the seed-dropping plate.

R2 is a coiled spring carried around the plunger R and has a bearing relation With the flange q and the head R' of the plunger, holding the head under a continuous pressure against the trundles of the drum-ratchet in the manner described. The plunger is also provided with the perforation q in the lower end thereof, adapted When the plu nger` is not in use to be forced back into the opening Q, the head forced into the cavity Ql, a cotterpin carried in the perforation q', the manner of adjusting the same being best shown in Fig. 4t.

The operation of the planter in its different forms from a study of the drawings Will be readily understood; but for conveniences and to show the many advantages derived from the combination herein described I Will describe the manner of operating the machine and the changes necessary to plantwith theA different forms such as described in the preamble of my specification.

In check-row planting it is unnecessary to change any of the elementary Working parts, the opera-tion being such that When the forked levers p are operated by the check-Wire in the usual manner the check-arms P Will be caused to Contact with the check-arm stops P', causing the rock-shaft to be actuated, which will operate the valves in the Shanks, the seed having been dropped by them caused lby the rotation of the seed-plates through the rotation of the operating-shaftL, the pinion J, and the rin ggear N3. In using the planter to drill it Will be seen that by removing the pivot s, upon which the valve S swings, and placing the same in the perforation s" at the rear of the heel the planter has been quickly adjusted from a check-rower to a drill, and in planting in hills the manner of adjusting the necessary parts is as quickly accomplished and Without in any Way interfering With the seedbox or the plates carried therein or without providing any auxiliary plates to facilitate in this manner of planting, the adjustment of the parts being such that the dog O3 is displaced from its pivot in the arm O2, the

plunger held back in its normal position,

(shown in Fig. 4,) the driving-chain b3 having the power for actuating the operatingshaft which rotates the seed-plate, the dropping of the seed being continued until the engagement of the check-Wire engages with the forked lever p', which controls thc parts as above referred to for opening the valve in the heel of the shank for dropping the seed in hills, as is desired. i

yIt will be seen from the above that I am enabled by the provisions made to adjust the planter to almost any variety of Work, using it for a simple drill, as a combined drill and check-rower in which the drill operates continuously and the check-row devices only are operated by the Wire, or it may be operated asa check-row planter, pure and simple, operated through the agency of the foot-lever or by hand.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In a planter, a revolving shaft and seedplates operated thereby, a rock-shaft operat- IIO ing a valve in the planter-shank, a drumratchet suitably journaled on the revolving shaft and a dog adapted to engage the trundles on said drum-ratchet, a plunger carried independently of said dog and in a suitable stationary support provided for said plunger, suitable spring-pressure for forcing the iingers of said plunger into contact with the trundles of the drum limiting the rotation of said drum when engaged bysaid dog, a perforation in the outer end of said plunger adapted to have inserted therein a suitable pin for the purpose of disengaging the plunger from the trundles of the drum to ladapt a free and easy rotation of said drum, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination With a corn-planter hav- 'in g cylindrical seed-hoppers hinged to a fixed base and provided with seeding devices intermittingly actuated by a revolving shaft through a suitable pinion-gearing matching a pinion on said revolving shaft, droppingplates removably supported in said hopper and adjustable the one upon the other, a knocker bearing upon said plates and coincident with the perforation therein and actuated thereby,of a laterally-adj ustable plantershank mounted on the planter-frame and independently movable of said seedboxes and base, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a planter having seed-hoppers with seed-plates arranged therein hinged to a iixed base or support Which is provided with a Vertically-disposed opening, a planter-shank mounted on the planter-frame independently of said hopper and base provided with a funnel-shaped upper extension adapted in its several movements to be coincident with the opening in said base, bearing and supporting plates extending from the upper end of the shank adapted to be bolted to said planterframe and which shank is adjustable thereon, all substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a planter, in combination With a oylindrical seed-hopperwhich is hinged to a fixed base and provided with a ring-gear and dropping-plates suitably carried in said ring and j ournaled on a stud carried through the bottom of the seedboX, a planter-shank removably mounted on the planter-frame independently of said box and base and adjustable laterally on said planter-frame for planting rows substantially as hereinbefore specified.

5. In a planter having seed-hoppers With seed-plates therein, a planter-shank mounted independently of said seedbox and support and laterally adjustable upon said planterframe, two parallel shafts one for operating the seed-plates and the other for operating the valves Within the planter-Shanks, a drum ratchet on said operating-shaft, actuated by a dog interinittingly operated by the rotation of the rock-shaft, of a plunger adapted to limit the movement of said drum-ratchet When moved by said dog suitably mount-ed independently of said dog and drum, of the means for rotating said rock-shaft and forcing said plunger into contact With said drum, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a planter, the combination With a revolving shaft for operating the hopper seed devices, and a rock-shaft for operating the valves in the planter-Shanks, of a drumratchet suitably mounted on the revolving shaft, journal-supports for said shaft carried at opposite sides of the drum-ratchet and preventing lateral displacement of said drum, an arm on said rock-shaft, a dog suitably pivoted thereto to engage the trundles of said drum to cause a partial rotation of said revolving shaft when actuated by said rockshaft, of a plunger held under spring-pressure and carried in a stationary frame-support independently of said frame and dog provided With fingers which are adapted to engage the trundles of said drum and to be operated substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I afl-lx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES J. SPURCK.

Vitnesses:

CHAs. W. LA PORTE, ABRAHAM JAooBsoN. 

